Supersized MSC well placed in new liner constellation

Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) is about to stretch its lead over its nearest rival to 2m teu with new data showing how well placed it has managed to become as a standalone operator following the shake-up of the liner trades this month.

According to consultancy Linerlytica, MSC has better market coverage and a larger market share to the newly formed Gemini Cooperation on the east-west trades. Gemini Cooperation is made up of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. 

“MSC will be able to offer the same or a larger number of weekly sailings on all of the 4 main routes than Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, using its self-operated services as well as selective partnerships with Premier Alliance on the North Europe and Med routes and with Zim on the US East Coast and PNW routes,” Linerlytica noted in its latest weekly report. 

MSC now has a 1.87m teu lead over Maersk in Alphaliner’s liner rankings, with its near 2m teu orderbook ensuring that lead will surpass 2m teu in the coming months.